Trade to Lakers delights Gasol

WASHINGTON: Newly acquired Los Angeles Lakers forward Pau Gasol said on Sunday he was delighted with his trade from the Memphis Grizzlies to the contending Lakers.

"I feel truly blessed with everything that has happened and what I am a part of right now," Gasol told reporters before the Lakers played the Washington Wizards.

"I spent seven years in Memphis and I learned a lot. It made me grow and mature as a player and a person," the Spaniard added. "Now I am in a situation where I am very privileged and I couldn't ask for anything better."

The Lakers, in need of inside help because of a knee injury to center Andrew Bynum, traded for Gasol on Friday in a deal that sent forward Kwame Brown and guards Javaris Crittenton and Aaron McKie to the Grizzlies.

"The best part is that right away I will have a chance to win," Gasol said of the move from the lowly Grizzlies (13-34) to the contending Lakers.

Los Angeles (30-16) moved to within 2.5 games behind Pacific Division leaders, Phoenix after beating the Wizards 103-91 Sunday behind 30 points by Kobe Bryant.

Gasol sat out the game while he learns the Lakers' system.

The addition of Gasol to the Bryant-led Lakers should make Los Angeles one of the strongest teams in the NBA, league observers said.

"The pressure to win and being one of the favorites is what you want, and something that I have been missing since I have been in the NBA," said Gasol. "I love that I have that with my national team every summer, I had that before I was in the NBA with Barcelona and that is what I have from now on."

Gasol, who joined Memphis in 2001 from Barcelona, has averaged 18.9 points, 8.8 rebounds and 1.4 blocked shots per game so far this season.

Los Angeles general manager Mitch Kupchak said on Friday the trade for the 27-year-old Gasol would strengthen the Lakers both in the short and long term.

"Pau is a proven player of All-Star caliber in this league who can score and rebound and he's still a young player," Kupchak said.

Bryant's fast start

Kobe Bryant of the Los Angeles Lakers personally outscored the Washington Wizards in a breakout first quarter to lead his team to a 103-91 road win on Sunday.

Bryant claimed 19 of his 30 points in the opening period as the Lakers roared into a 30-15 lead.

"He's the best in the game right now, hands down," Wizards forward Caron Butler told reporters.

"When a guy like that gets rolling, you are trying to stop one of the best players ever and we weren't able to."

Bryant, hitting a variety of shots, connected on 10 of 15 field-goal attempts.

"He is playing magnificently," Butler added. "With the addition of Pau Gasol, they are going to be great."

Gasol watched the game from the sideline. He is expected to play his first game for Los Angeles this week.

Four other Lakers joined Bryant in double figures with Vladimir Radmanovic getting 15 and Lamar Odom 14.

"I thought we caught them off guard a little bit," Lakers coach Phil Jackson said of his team's fast start.

"I like the rhythm with the change moving Kobe to the small forward position," Jackson added. "It has seemed to work well for us."

The Lakers shot 56.2 percent from the floor.

"We have grown a lot together," Bryant said. "We understand how to play with each other. Chemistry and knowing where guys are is the key. We were moving the ball almost blindly today."

Antawn Jamison led the Wizards with 21 points and 11 rebounds.

Butler, returning to the lineup after a hip injury, added 15 points.

Agencies

(China Daily 02/05/2008 page22)